Soft enamel is a type of plating with recessed and raised edges that give it a glossy texture. An epoxy coating is added to the surface to make it resistant to harsh conditions, which also smoothens it. Due to its smooth, shiny texture, and affordability, it is used in various items such as custom lapel pins, coins, keychains, and badges.
Unlike hard enamel, it doesn’t involve a complex and exhaustive process; it is much more seamless and less time-consuming.
Let’s explore popular epoxy enamel etchings, their production processes, and their relevance for creating accessories and keepsakes.
Soft Enamel: Its Prominent Uses
Soft enamel plating has been prominently used for complex artwork due to its ability to have intricate etchings cast upon it. Moreover, it is much more cost-effective compared to hard enamel. Over the years, it has been widely used for various accessories and engravings. The following are:
Personalized pins:
Pins that act as accessories or crests, enabling you to mold your preferred artwork or typefaces. Apart from being used as accessories for self-expression, soft enamel lapel pins also serve as tokens for brand awareness or to show allegiance to any organization.
Customized Medals:
Medals with intricate details and luster allow you to define prestige and celebrate achievements in an appealing manner. These soft enamel medals are prominent in the realm of sports and at graduation ceremonies.
Crafted Coins:
Soft enamel coins with an enamel surface add allure to your personalized inscriptions and designs. They are prominently used as promotional items (like at giveaway events), commemorative decorations (like in the defense sector), and collectibles. Moreover, they are used as awards in various sectors and as fundraising souvenirs.
Customized Badges:
Allowing you to have visually appealing badges or collectibles, emitting sheen and an aesthetic framework. Like lapel pins, soft enamel badges are often used as accessories for self-expression and brand awareness.
Ball Markers:
Customized ball markers have insignias or emblems embossed onto them, radiating the significance of the organization while placing them as golf putts or owning them as archives or collectibles. These soft enamel ball markers are among the in-demand collectibles and accessories as they allow you to have personalized inscriptions and designs of your own.
Production Process of Soft Enamel
Have you ever wondered how the enamel takes onto the accessories and relics? Here’s what the process is like and how it is efficient in comparison to hard enamel:
Enamel Creation:
The method of enameling involves creating enamel by mixing shards of glass and metal oxides, then immersing them in other solvents like water and oil. This mixture is then applied to the metal base, making the enamel more applicable.
Techniques:
There are various techniques for producing soft enamel moldings and engravings, such as die-striking, photosensitive etching and CNC machining.
Method of Producing Soft Enamel:
The enamel mixture is poured onto the patterned die, on its recessed areas (as mentioned above the die-striking method), and heated to fuse it well with the metal base.
Firing Session:
A heating method is carried out in a kiln to produce an array of colors.
Finishing Session:
The only exception is that its polishing is done in a way that creates a much smoother and glossier surface with raised edges, due to the enamel settling above the metal base.
Its production somewhat differs from that of hard enamel; in contrast, hard enamel color creation itself is a process involving the separation of colors and then the firing cycle to fuse them well with the base material.
Due to the more feasible and budget-friendly production, most manufacturers prefer to use it more, especially among soft enamel pins manufacturers.
FAQS
What is a soft enamel?
It is a plating imprinted upon a base material, having a glossy and smoother surface.
Is soft enamel versatile?
It can be etched into various engravings and mintages like medallions, custom pins and customizable coins.
What type of conditions is soft enamel resistant to?
Due to their embedded epoxy coating, they are resistant to harsh conditions like moisture, heat and dust.
Is soft enamel a more affordable method for producing engravings?
Yes, soft enamel is a more affordable method for molding and engravings due to its simpler and less intensive process than hard enamel.
What is the difference between hard and soft enamel?
Soft enamel features raised outlines or edges, enabling the filling of the recessed areas with a glossy texture. On the other hand, hard enamel features a smooth flat surface, exempting raised edges or outlines, giving a plain texture.
Can we make our own soft enamel pins?
Yes, we can make our custom pins by sending your quote to the custom product manufacturing services, detailing your requirements.